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India, who have never won a football match against China, will lock horns with their much-fancied neighbours for the 18th time when they play a friendly in Suzhou, which will kick off at 5.05 pm IST on Saturday, October 13.
China, nicknamed Team Dragon, are the favourites to walk away with a win on Saturday, which will mark the first time that a senior Indian football team will play a game in the country. The game will be held at Suzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium near Shanghai.
Even on paper, China are the better side, ranked 76th in the world as compared to India's 97th position.
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However, the friendly will be a good test for India, who will play the 2019 Asian Cup in January in the UAE in a group featuring the hosts, Thailand and Bahrain.
"We can't deny the history but both teams have to start afresh on October 13," India defender Anas Edathodika said before the game. "Both teams will start from zero."
China, who are in Group C alongside South Korea, Kyrgyzstan and Philippines, will continue their preparations for the tournament with friendlies against Syria and Palestine.
For them too, the India friendly is significant as it will help coach Marcello Lippi understand where the Team Dragon stands currently in Asian football.
Ahead of the exciting friendly, Sportskeeda presents you five exciting players you should look out for from China.
#1 Gao Lin
Position: Striker
Club: Guangzhou Evergrande
Age: 32
Known for his technical ability, Gao Lin is Guangzhou Evergrande's all-time top scorer with 111 goals in over 230 appearances. For China, he has recorded 20 goals in 100 caps and is also enjoying a great season in the Chinese Super League, raking up 10 strikes in 23 appearances.
Gao Lin, a huge fan of former Germany striker Jurgen Klinsmann, dons the No 18 jersey for China in honour of the former Germany and United States National Team coach, and has also been nicknamed Gaolinsmann for the same reason.
Against India, Lin will be a threat aerially and central defenders Sandesh Jhingan and Anas Edathodika have to be wary of his control over the ball as well.
#2 Zheng Zhi
Position: Midfielder (can play as a defensive midfielder also)
Club: Guangzhou Evergrande
Age: 38
The captain of the Chinese national team is also the oldest player in the squad.
Being the oldest member of the squad, Zheng carries a tremendous amount of experience which could be valuable for the side against India.
Zheng has plied his trade in the Premier League when he signed for Charlton Athletic in 2006, back when the club was in top flight. He has also played for Celtic and returned to China in 2010. He has won the AFC Champions League twice - in 2013 and 2015 - with Evergrande and was also named Asia's best footballer in 2013.
Zheng is known for his versatility as he started off his career as a defender and then became a midfielder. Right now, he controls the rhythm of the play for China and will like to prove to coach Marcello Lippi that he has still got it.
He and Gao Lin have over 100 caps for the national team.
#3 Wu Lei
Position: Winger/Forward
Club: Shanghai SIPG
Age: 26
China love to go on the attack and who better than Wu Lei, the top scorer of the Chinese Super League (98 goals in 167 appearances), to steer it? At the prime of his career right now, Lei was linked with a summer transfer window move to Wolves but that deal is yet to see the light of the day. Nevertheless, the pacey attacker has pumped in 21 goals in 23 appearances for CSL leaders Shanghai SIPG this season and doesn't seem to be slowing down.
#4 Zhang Linpeng
Position: Defender
Club: Guangzhou Evergrande
Age: 29
The Sergio Ramos of the Chinese national team, Zhang is strong in the air (for clearing aerial balls). The defender has been linked with moves to the Serie A (Inter Milan) and Premier League (Chelsea) but injuries saw him miss out on these big opportunities to impress at the global level.
Along with the other centre-back Yu Yang, the pair stands strong against opposition attackers, which will make the job of Sunil Chhetri and Jeje Lalpekhlua all the more difficult in China.
#5 Zeng Cheng
Position: Goalkeeper
Club: Guangzhou Evergrande
Age: 31
Similar to the towering Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Cheng stands at a height of 6 feet 2 inches but is all the more athletic. He graduated from an understudy to the first-choice goalkeeper under Lippi itself, back when the Italian was the Evergrande manager between 2012-2014.
The keeper enjoys a good working relationship with Lippi and has been often praised for his quick reflexes by the Italian. Cheng's best show came during the 2013 CSL season when he let in only 16 goals in 27 matches and also managed to keep 13 clean sheets.
